Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Users Manual
for Microsoft Windows
Apple Macintosh
Disclaimer
The seller of and the author of the computer software described in this
manual hereby disclaim any and all guarantees and warranties on the
software or its documentation, both expressed and implied. No liability
of any form shall be assumed by the seller or author; nor shall direct,
consequential, or other damages be assumed by the seller or author.
Any user of this software uses it at his or her own risk.
This product is sold on an as is basis; no tness for any purpose
whatsoever nor warranty of merchantability are claimed or implied.
Screenplay Systems Incorporated reserves the right to make changes,
additions, and improvements to the software or documentation at any
time without notice to any person or organization; no guarantee is made
that future versions of either will be compatible with any other version.
Copyright Notice
Manual written by Kevin Hindley.
Copyright 1993-2006 Write Brothers Incorporated.
Portions Blue Sky Software Corporation.
Portions 1993-99 Altura Software, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced,
copied, transcribed, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or
translated into any language in any form by any means without the
written permission of Write Brothers Incorporated, 138 N. Brand Blvd.
Suite 201, California 91203, United States of America.
Trademarks
Dramatica and Write Brothers are registered trademarks of Write
Brothers Incorporated. References may be made in this manual
to Macintosh; this name is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
References may be made in this manual to Microsoft Windows; this
name is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc. All other trademarks are held by
their respective owners.
Patent
Dramatica is protected by U.S. patent 5,734,916 & 6,105,046.
0606
Contents
Introduction..............................................................6
The Art and Craft of Storytelling ..................................................... 6
Novels ........................................................................................... 7
Scripts ........................................................................................... 7
Storyforming .................................................................................. 8
Illustrating ...................................................................................... 9
Dramatica Desktop ....................................................................... 10
Desktop Tiles ................................................................................ 10
StoryGuide tile ......................................................................... 10
Help tile .................................................................................... 10
Open Story tile ......................................................................... 10
Character tile ........................................................................... 11
Plot Progression tile ................................................................. 11
Theme Browser tile .................................................................. 11
Dictionary tile ........................................................................... 11
Query System tile ..................................................................... 11
Story Engine tile ...................................................................... 11
Story Points tile ........................................................................ 11
Reports tile .............................................................................. 12
Brainstorming tile ..................................................................... 12
The Dramatica Menu Bar ............................................................. 12
3.
4.
Import........................................................................................ 45
Export ....................................................................................... 46
Tools .......................................................................64
Dramatica Dictionary .................................................................... 64
Vocabulary List Tree ................................................................ 65
Spin-the-Model command ........................................................ 67
Character Generator command ................................................ 69
Theme Browser ........................................................................ 72
5.
Introduction
The Art and Craft of Storytelling
Congratulations! By opening up your mind to other ways of looking
at the story creation process, youve taken the rst step on the way to
becoming a better writer. For thats all Dramatica isa software tool
for writers of dramatic ction. Whether youre writing novels or short
stories, screenplays or stage plays, the story development process
Dramatica leads you through has the single aim of improving your craft
of storytelling.
This approach to story determines how a story is structured, which
dramatic elements constitute a perfect story, and how those elements
are best arranged in order to have the writers desired effect on an
audience.
Due to Dramaticas 32,768 possible storyformsor combinations
of these dramatic elementsthere is no danger of a formula being
imposed upon the writer. What makes your story so unique is that
you are telling it, your way, as only you can. Looking at story from
Dramaticas point of view can actually free your mind from any formulaic
approaches to storytelling you may have unwittingly absorbed from
other sources.
As Dramatica deals with the pre-writing phase of story creation
where the left brain organizes and outlines the pieces that make up a
storyit primarily affects the framework of your story. Your individual
line writingwhere the right brain roams free and unleashes the art of
storytellingcan be as creative as ever. We hope that with the input of
Dramatica, your creative writing partner, it will be more so.
Be prepared for a little frustration. Writing, and especially rewriting,
is not easy. Be prepared for insight. Much of what Dramatica has to
say about story will be new to you, or may challenge your previous
knowledge or assumptions about storytelling. But much of it will have
a familiar ring, putting a fresh spin on some aspect of storytelling you
already use in your writing. Be prepared to have fun. True, writing
is work. But work should be fun. Do what you love, and success will
follow.
6.
Novels
Dramatica is designed for developing stories of dramatic ction,
which includes both novels and short stories. A main difference
between the two forms is scope. Novels can contain many characters
and the progression of their activities over much space and time. Short
stories tend to concentrate on a smaller number of characters, perhaps
on one dramatic incident in one place over a short timespan.
Whichever form you choose, the StoryGuide is a great place to
start. It leads you through the steps of developing your characters,
creating a Storyform structure, and writing concrete examples in
Illustrating.
When it comes to the Storyweaving stage, short story writers will
probably want to skip Exposition Development and jump straight into
Scene Creation to shape the scenes that make up the short story. For
your Scene Labels, choose Scene. After planning your scenes, print a
Story Treatment Report and expand it into your short story.
Novelists, dealing with a much larger work of ction, will want to
take advantage of all the story pre-planning tools available. Exposition
Development gives you the opportunity to further develop your story. It
also provides you with a way to visualize your characters Introduction
into, and Dismissal from, your story. In Scene Creation, youll be using
Chapter or Scene as your Scene Label. The This Scene Represents
pop-up menu will help you plan the threading of thematic elements
through your throughlines. Print a Storyweaving Overview Report to
see how youve tied all the elements of your story together, scene by
scene. For a plain plot synopsis of your chapters and scenes, print the
Story Treatment Report.
Scripts
The One-Act Play can be developed in a similar fashion to the short
story, above. For your Scene Labels, choose Scene.
The screenplay and the longer two or three act stage play are more
like the novel in their depth of storytelling. As with novel writing above,
both will benet from the Exposition Development and Scene Creation
stages of Storyweaving.
The Stage Play has a visible organization into acts, traditionally
indicated in the performance by the lowering and raising of the stage
curtain. Within each act are dramatic scenes. For your Scene Labels,
choose Scene.
7.
Storyforming
Storyforming involves the natural process of thinking about a
story before any writing begins. This covers the creative, intuitive, and
practical decision-making skills common to all writers and storytelling
styles. By brainstorming with Dramatica, you can develop the dramatic
framework that incorporates the structural and thematic elements of
your story. The term Dramatica uses to describe this deep structure
is a Storyform. Working with Dramatica to determine the most suitable
storyform takes your single idea and expands it into a cohesive story,
rich with meaning.
Dramatica contains 32,768 potential storyforms. You could use
any one storyform as the basis for telling your story, though each would
have a different effect on the way an audience experiences that story
due to its particular themes and the order in which they are revealed.
Each storyform, however, contains the entire set of story elements
needed to create a complete story.
The number of potential storyforms is not the number of stories
that have been or can be told. The variety of illustrations through
which each storyform can be dramatized is limited only by a particular
writers imagination. There is no limit to the number of stories which
can evolve from a single storyform, much less from all 32,768 storyform
combinations. The object of storyforming in Dramatica is to nd a single
storyform that best incorporates the structural, thematic, and dynamic
elements of your story. Identifying this one storyform is done by
choosing from a number of multiple choice topics.
8.
Illustrating
Dramatica makes a clear distinction between two different phases
of story creation: Storyforming and Illustrating.
Whereas storyforming is the process of creating a storys dramatic
skeleton, or structure, Illustrating is the process of eshing out that
skeleton. Here, you illustrate your storyform choices with specic
examplesin the form of description, dialogue, events, etc.that can
become portions of your nished story.
Storyweavinghere, you can further develop your illustrating into
more detailed story exposition. Then, construct scenes that combine
into a narrative treatment of your story (Scenes for a screenplay, Acts
or Scenes for a stage play, Chapters or Scenes for a novel). In the
Scene Creation phase of storyweaving, you can also incorporate your
storys Signposts (indicators of where the characters stand at certain
key points) and Journeys (dramatic acts between signposts) into a
linear timeline for your story. While doing so, you assign each of
Dramaticas story elements to one or more scenes, ensuring that they
are represented throughout the story.
(Note: Signposts and journeys are elements of Plot Progression.
In the StoryGuide, they are used in the Level 3 path, but not the Level 1
or Level 2 paths.)
9.
Dramatica Desktop
The Dramatica desktop is the rst window that appears when you
open Dramatica by double-clicking on its icon. It has twelve tiles which
make up a launch pad from which to begin developing your stories.
Desktop Tiles
The tiles give you access to the most commonly used tools in the
program. Just click your mouse once on any tile to go to that feature of
Dramatica.
StoryGuide tile
The StoryGuide leads you step-by-step through the creation of
your story. Recommended for rst-time users, and preferred by many
seasoned Dramatica users.
Help tile
Dramatica has an extensive Online Help system, complete with this
manual and the Dramatica Theory Book.
10.
your own les, or the detailed example les that are included with the
software.
Character tile
The Character List window is where you create your storys
characters and establish dynamic relationships between them.
Dictionary tile
To better understand the questions Dramatica asks, or the unique
terms it uses, consult the Dramatica Dictionary. With this oating
dictionary, denitions are always just a mouse click away.
11.
Reports tile
The Reports window is where you view or print detailed reports on
your storys structure, characters, theme, plot, genre, and Illustrations.
These reports can also be exported for use in Movie Magic Screenwriter
or a word processing program.
Brainstorming tile
Have fun as Brainstorming puts a fresh spin on your story. Based
on your story choices so far, Spin-the-Model randomly lls in the rest
to give you a storyform you might not have thought of. The Character
Generator creates new characters with as much random-ness as you
allow.
File Commands
File commands are used for general document handling and, for
12.
the most part, work the same as in other programs. The Dramatica
Desktop indicates which story le is open by displaying the les name
in the desktop windows title bar. The File commands include:
New command
The New command creates a new, empty Dramatica story le
called Untitled. Dramatica automatically creates a new story le each
time the program is started.
Open command
The Open command opens previously saved story les. These
may be les you created and saved, or the example story les shipped
with Dramatica.
Close command
The Close command closes the current active window. If the
Dramatica desktop is the current active window, the currently active
story le is closed also. If the document needs to be saved, Dramatica
prompts you.
Save command
The Save command saves changes to your story le. If you do not
want to overwrite your original story le, use the SAVE AS and SAVE
A COPY AS commands.
(Note: In addition to saving the changes you make to your story
les, make sure that you occasionally make backup copies of your
work to oppy disk, tape drive, or le server. If some sort of hard disk
or system problem occurs, you dont want to lose the only copy of your
work.)
Saving is a quick process and you should save often.
Save As command
The Save As command saves a copy of your story le under
a different le name. You can make multiple versions of a work in
progress by keeping separate drafts.
The original version of the story le is closed unchanged, and the
new version of the story le is open and ready for you to continue your
work.
13.
If you try to save as the same name as your original story le, the
Save As command may ask if you want to overwrite the existing le.
If you answer yes, Dramatica will behave as if you had executed the
Save command and overwrite your original story le.
Export command
Selectable only when you have the Reports window open, the
Export command lets you save the contents of a Report to a text le.
Exporting report text is especially useful as a transition from the story
development stage (in Dramatica), to the writing and/or rewriting stage
(in your word-processing software). The text le(s) can then be opened
in your word processing program and used to guide the writing/rewriting
of your story.
Print command
Selectable only when the Reports window is open, the Print
14.
Exit/Quit command
The Quit command closes all open story les and exits from
Dramatica. If a story le has been modied since the last save,
Dramatica will prompt you to save the le. If you do not want changes
made to your story to be saved, answer No to the save prompt.
Edit Commands
The Edit commands primarily control text editing functions. When
edit commands are unavailable or inappropriate, they are dimmed on
the menu, displaying in gray. The Edit commands include:
Undo command
The Undo command cancels the last text editing operation
performed.
Cut command
To use the Cut command, rst highlight some text by selecting it.
Double-click on a word, or drag across a block of text. When you cut
the highlighted text, you permanently remove it from your story le and
temporarily store it on the Clipboard. Used with the Paste command,
the Cut command is useful for moving sections of text around by
cutting it from one place and pasting it into another.
Copy command
To use the Copy command, rst highlight some text by selecting
it. Double-click on a word, or drag across a block of text. When you
copy the highlighted text, it remains in your story le and a copy of it is
temporarily stored on the Clipboard. Used with the Paste command, the
Copy command is useful for duplicating sections of text by copying it
from one place and pasting it into as many other places as you want.
Paste command
The Paste command is used to insert cut or copied text. To use
the Paste command, rst put the cursor where youd like the text to be
inserted. If the insertion point is a block of highlighted text, the Paste
command will replace it with the text stored on the Clipboard.
15.
Clear command
To use the Clear command, rst highlight some text by selecting
it. Double-click on a word, or drag across a block of text. The Clear
command permanently removes the highlighted text without storing it on
the Clipboard. It works similar to the Delete key on your keyboard, but
on larger blocks of text. Unlike the Cut command, the Clear command
does not disturb text already stored on the Clipboardallowing you to
continue Pasting it into your story le.
Preferences command
The Preferences command gives you control over various general
program and printing options, allowing you to customize Dramatica to
work the way you work.
General Preferences:
16.
Report Options:
17.
otherwise.
Left
^| (| = shift-backslash)
Center
^>
Right
:
Justication Codes affect the text directly to the left of them. As an
example, the default Dramatica footer text of:
Dramatica ^V^<- ^P -^|^D^>
prints as:
Dramatica 4.0
-1-
Dramatica substitutes:
^A or ^a
Author of story
^D or ^d
^P or ^p
Page number
^R or ^r
Report name
^T or ^t
Title of story
^V or ^v
^^
18.
19.
Storyforming Commands
There are ve commands in the Storyforming menu:
StoryGuide
The StoryGuide is Dramaticas step-by-step tutorial for creating
a story. Its specically designed to give writers new to Dramatica one
ideal path for approaching their story through Dramatica.
The StoryGuide tutorial takes place entirely online. It can be
accessed in two ways:
Under the Storyforming Menu, select StoryGuide.
20.
Level 1
Click on this button for the quickest path to creating a story.
Though this path doesnt utilize every element of the Dramatica model
of story, you may nd it contains enough to get you started on your
story. Writers of shorter dramatic stories, such as short stories, one act
plays, and sitcoms will nd plenty to work with here.
This path is designed to be followed from beginning to end,
answering the questions in the order presented.
All the creative work you do here shows up in the Level 2 and Level
3 paths and in other parts of Dramatica.
Printing a report at each stage of the StoryGuide is optional, though
it does provide a handy reference tool.
After responding to each question, press RETURN (MacOS) or
ENTER (Windows) to advance to the next one.
The Level 1 StoryGuide path contains approximately 60 questions.
Level 2
The Level 2 path helps you develop your story on a somewhat
deeper level than the Level 1 path, mainly presenting more Main
21.
Level 3
Click on this button to develop your story in much fuller depth.
All four throughlines are fully developed with their own Concerns,
Problems, Themes, and Signposts & Journeys. You are able to skip
questions and answer them later, or even let Dramatica supply the
answers based upon your other decisions, when possible.
All the creative work you do here shows up in other parts of
Dramatica.
Printing a report at each stage of the StoryGuide is optional, though
it does provide a handy reference tool.
After responding to each question, press RETURN (MacOS) or
ENTER (Windows) to advance to the next one.
The Level 3 StoryGuide path contains approximately 250 questions.
Structure Templates
The quickest and easiest way to create a story in Dramatica is
by opening a structure template and using the Level 1 path of the
StoryGuide. There are a number of templates to choose from, e.g.,
screenplay, novel, short story.
Each comes with an appropriate number of archetypal characters
already created, ensuring that each character has a clear dramatic
function in the story. If these characters are sufcient for the story you
want to tell, just change their names and develop them as prompted.
You may delete characters or create more as needed, but at a minimum
youll need to keep the Main Character and Impact Character.
Other than having characters already created, the rst three
sections of the StoryGuide pathGetting Started, Storyforming, and
Illustratingare the same. When you reach the Storyweaving section,
youll notice the greatest difference.
22.
23.
24.
For a new story, you should proceed in the order the topics appear
onscreen, from the top down:
1. Storyforming (to create the underlying structure)
2. Illustrating (to give concrete examples from your story)
3. Storyweaving (to place your structure and illustrations into
scenes)
Whichever topic you start with, youll eventually complete all three
topicsresulting in a fully developed Dramatica story.
Within each of these Topics, select which area of your story youd
like to start working on rst:
a. Character
b. Plot
c. Theme
These can be approached in any order. Again, whichever one you
start with, youll be doing the others later.
Clicking on a button brings up that topic in the topic window at the
left of the screen. For example, clicking on Storyforming/Character
brings up a hierarchical list of questions regarding your Main and Impact
Characters. Once youve completed them, youre returned to the Query
System Home Window to choose your next topic path.
In Storyforming, you are presented with multiple-choice questions
about your storyform. In Illustrating, you are presented with ll-in text
25.
Click on the Previous and Next buttons in the lower left hand
corner to move up or down the current topic list.
Click on the Close button to exit the Query System and return
to the Dramatica desktop.
26.
27.
28.
examples of how you are going to illustrate your storyform choices while
telling your story.
Copy Text
Cut Text
29.
Paste Text
Save command
30.
31.
Story Engine
Story Engine is recommended for Advanced Users Only.
Unlike the Query System and the StoryGuide, the Story Engine
employs a simple window containing twenty-four different pop-up menus
of storyforming choices. However, they are all really different views of
the same storyform material. The story work you do in one view shows
up in the other two.
Advantages of the Story Engine include:
A holistic approach that shows the impact of your selection on
other parts of the storyform immediately.
32.
Items whose options have been limited will indicate the number
of potential selections remaining, e.g. Any of 4.
Storyforms Remaining
As you make a single choiceyour storys Throughline, for
examplenotice that the number of potential storyforms remaining
(displayed screen-right, above the Clear button) decreases.
If you select a Character Dynamics choice (for example, Do-er as
the Approach), the number of potential storyforms decreases from the
maximum of 32,768 to 16,384.
33.
Locks
To the right of each topic is a padlock checkbox. Click on this
checkbox to lock your Topic selection, identifying it as a high priority
choice.
When a topic is locked, there is an X or check-mark in the padlock
box. You can remove this X by clicking on it at any time.
Topics you have locked do not change when you issue the Clear
Storyform command (see below). Unlocked topics will be cleared,
displaying Any or Either instead of your selection (unless they are
limited by other locked topics).
Clear command
The Clear command is useful for testing various what if?
scenarios for your storyform:
1. Lock those topic selections that youre most condent t your
storyform, then select some others (that youre less sure of)
without locking them.
2. If the selections Dramatica predicts for you dont t your story,
clear the choices youre unsure of by clicking on the Clear
button. Your locked selections remain the same.
3. Try again using different selections for the topics youre unsure
of, until you get a storyform that best suits your story.
Clicking on the Clear button clears all storyforming choices you
have made in the Story Engine (and in the Query System), except for
ones you have selected and locked.
If you clear your storyform then change your mind, you can go back
to the storyform as it was before opening the Story Engine window by
clicking on the Revert button.
Any illustrating you have done is unaffected by the Clear Storyform
command.
34.
Revert command
The Revert command is like an Undo button for the Clear
Storyform command. It replaces your current storyform with the
storyform as it was before opening the Story Engine window.
Clear Storyform
Like the Clear button in the Story Engine window, this command
clears all the Storyforming choices in the currently displayed story le.
The Story Engine resets to 32,768 available Storyforms.
Unlike in the Story Engine window, there is no revert command
available on Dramaticas Main Menu Bar. Dramatica prompts you to
conrm your irreversible decision to clear the storyform.
35.
Character Commands
In Dramatica, characters are not just people who do things in a
story. Each character serves a larger purpose by reecting specic
activities or attributes which are key steps in the storys problem-solving
process.
The Character commands are used to create, develop, and remove
characters from your story. The Character commands include:
Character List
The Character List command brings up a list of your storys
characters and a series of tiles for accessing more character features.
Access the Character List using one of these methods:
Under the Character Menu, select Character List
36.
When you rst open this window in a new storyform, there are two
icons in your character list. The Main and Impact Character icons are
created automatically with every new le in Dramatica. The rest of your
characters are created here by using the Create Character command.
The following tiles in the Character List window connect you to
Dramaticas character development tools:
Create Character
Click on this tile or select the Create command under the Character
menu to add a new character to your storys character list. Clicking
here calls up a new Character Info window (see Info command). In
this window, name your new characters, describe who they are, and
describe what their roles in your story will be.
Build Characters
Click on this tile in the Character List window or select Build
Characters under the Characters menu to open the Build Characters
window.
Assign Characteristics
Assign a characteristic to a character by:
1. Clicking on a character icon in the left window and dragging it
over the Character Element Grid in the center.
2. Once the icon is over a characteristic, text in the denition
window above the grid changes to a context-sensitive
description of the character with the associated characteristic.
3. Drop the icon onto a characteristic by releasing the mouse
button.
Any character icon already assigned this particular characteristic is
replaced by the one you dragged and dropped.
37.
Remove Characteristics
Remove a characteristic from a character by:
1. Clicking on the characters icon on the Character Element Grid
and dragging it off the grid to another part of the window.
2. Release the mouse button and the characteristic is removed.
Characteristic Notes
At the bottom of the Build Characters window is the Characteristic
Notes window. Use this text box to illustrate how a character ts the
characteristic youve assigned to him or her.
The Characteristic Note stays with the characteristic, not
the character. If you remove a character icon from a particular
characteristic, you need to also remove the Characteristic Note by
deleting its text.
Character Dimensions
The relative position of two characters icons in the grid tells you
something about the relationship the characters have in your story:
Characters diagonally opposed to each
other have the greatest conict.
Characters next to one another
have the most indirect impact
on each other.
Characters above and below
each other form positive
or negative dependencies.
Only one character icon can be assigned to
each characteristic in the software.
Character Type
To identify a character as a particular Archetype, rst select the
characters icon by single-clicking on it in the Character List window at
left. Then select the appropriate Archetypal designation (Protagonist,
Reason, Skeptic, etc.) from the Character Type pop-up menu.
38.
Typecast
To give a character a set of characteristics associated with a certain
character stereotype:
1. Select a character icon in the Character List window by doubleclicking on it.
2. Click on the Typecast button. A Typecast Dramatica Character
dialog box displays.
3. In the Look in: pop-up menu, open the Character Examples
folder.
4. Assign the stereotype (bully, charmer, coward, etc.) of your
choice by double-clicking on it.
If the characteristics of the stereotype conict with other choices
youve already made, you are prompted to replace your other choices.
Characteristic Notes are also transferred, and either add to or replace
the existing notes, depending on your Character Options settings.
Delete Character
Deleting a character is a permanent, irreversible action. To remove
a character from your story:
1. Click on the characters icon in the Character List window to
select it.
2. Click on the Delete Character tile or select Delete from the
Character menu. You are prompted to conrm your decision to
delete a character.
The character is removed from the Character List and from every
characteristic you assigned it to in the Character Element Grid of the
Build Characters window. However, all references to this deleted
character remain in your Illustrations, if you wrote about the character
there.
Warning! Deleting a character removes it from everywhere it
appears in your storyform. You will lose all descriptions you may have
written about it, and it will no longer appear in any of the reports. Once
it is gone, you cannot call back that information.
(Note: You must have both a Main and Impact Character in your
storyform. If you try to delete either of them from your story, you will be
39.
Character Info
The Character Info window allows you to enter, review, and edit
informationsuch as name, role in the story, description, gender,
etc.about a character. To call up the Character Info window, use one
of these methods from the Character List window:
Click a characters icon to select it, then press the Character
Info tile.
Click a characters icon to select it, then select Info under the
Character Menu.
40.
Characteristics list
Below the character description text box is a non-editable list of
the characteristics you assigned to the character in the Build Character
window.
More button
Pressing the More button displays a window where you can enter
more detailed information about a character. This includes an expanded
description of the characters role, a description of the characters
function in the story, and a description of the type of activities with which
your character is involved in the story.
41.
Main/Impact Window
Though you cannot reach a single storyform just by making choices
in the Main/Impact window, you can get very close.
Clear button
The Clear Storyform command is useful for testing various what
if? scenarios for your storyform:
42.
Revert command
The Revert command is like an undo button for the Clear
Storyform command. It replaces your current storyform with the
storyform as it was before opening the Main/Impact window.
Casting
Casting offers a simple way to assign icons to your characters.
Choose an icon that reminds you of your character.
To display the Casting window, click on the Casting tile in the
43.
Casting Window
For ease of use, Character Icons are grouped according to type.
When you nd an icon that looks like the character you have in mind:
1. Click on the characters current icon in the Character Icon list
on the left side of the window.
2. Scroll through the images in the category that best describes
each character.
3. Click on an icon to assign it to your character.
The characters icon will be replaced with the new one. You can
change icons at any time.
Picture
Across the bottom of the Casting window is an area for adding and
grouping your own customized character icons.
Assign your own icons to your characters by using the Picture
command under the Character Menu.
The Picture command can open Windows bitmap (.BMP) les in
Windows, and PICT and PICT2 les on the Macintosh.
To import a character icon using the Picture command:
1. Click on the characters current icon in the Character List
window to select it.
2. Under the Character Menu, select Picture The Select
Character Bitmap window displays.
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Import
The Character Import command copies all of a characters
attributes (name, gender, role, icon, characteristics, etc.) from a
Dramatica character le of your choice to a new character in the
currently open Dramatica story le. You can import the deliberately
stereotypical characters (bully, optimist, screamer, etc.) that Dramatica
supplies, or import from a character le created with the Character
Export command.
A character can be imported into any currently open Dramatica
story le. You can import a character while in any area of Dramatica,
such as the desktop. To Import a character:
1. Open the Dramatica story le you want to import a character
into.
2. Under the Character Menu, select Import. The Import
Dramatica Character dialog box displays.
3. Double-click on the Dramatica Character File to import, e.g.,
Optimist.dcf. (If the Import Characters characteristics conict
with selections youve already made for other characters, you
are prompted to make changes.)
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Export
The Character Export command makes a copy of a selected
character, complete with all attributes (name, gender, role, icon,
characteristics, etc.), and transfers it to an external character le. The
character can then be imported into any Dramatica story le.
Characters can be exported from:
The Character List window.
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To Export a character:
1. In the appropriate character window, select a character icon by
clicking on it.
2. Under the Character Menu, select Export. The Select Name
For Character File dialog box displays.
3. Enter a name for the Dramatica Character File youre creating.
4. Click on the Save button.
In Windows, this Dramatica Character File is given a le extension
of .dcf.
Dramatica Character Files are kept in the Character Examples
folder.
Storytelling Commands
In Storyforming you decided which combination of dramatic
elements would make up your story. Now youll show how those same
dramatic elements are played out in your story, in the part of story
development that Dramatica calls Storytelling.
While most of this work is done in the Query System, Dramatica
has a few extra commands designed to supplement your storytelling
abilities. Commands found in the Storytelling Menu include:
A special note should be made at this point about Dramaticas
Reports feature. The reports are designed to put your storyforming and
illustrating work into various contexts in order to provide greater clarity
and understanding, and provide a reference to keep you on track as you
do the line writing of the story.
Story Info
The Story Info window helps you keep track of separate versions
and drafts of your story. You can enter basic information about your
story here when you create a new le. Later, when you reach the
Illustrating stage of story development, you can rene that information in
the illustrating part of the Query System. The Query System offers the
help in answering these questions that the Story Info window doesnt.
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To display the Story Info Window, select Story Info under the
Storytelling Menu.
Comments
The Comments command provides a place for you to enter any
comments on your story and/or the story le itself.
Comments Window
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Reports
The Reports command lets you output all the story work youve
done in storyforming and illustrating.
Dramaticas reports reect your story elements from various
perspectives, including your Overall and Main vs. Impact throughlines,
your Main and Impact Characters, and your story as an entire work.
Dramaticas Reports help you take a broad overview of your storys
dramatics or focus on specic story points as you write.
The reports can also be exported to your word processor as text
les for further expansion or formatting. If youre creating a screenplay
or stage play, character and scene work can be exported directly into
scenes in Movie Magic Screenwriter.
In the Reports window you can read, print, or export a variety of
reports about your story. Before you can use most of these reports, you
need to have arrived at a single storyform for your story.
Access the Reports window using one of these methods:
Click on the Reports tile on the Dramatica desktop.
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Reports Window
Select a Report
To select a single report:
1. Click on the Vocabulary, Illustrations, and Show blank lines
buttons, as desired (see below).
2. Click on the Select Reports pop-up menu at the top right of the
Reports window.
3. Holding down the mouse button, scroll through the list of report
Categories. When the cursor is over each category, a list of
available reports branches off from it.
4. Move the cursor sideways until its over a list of reports. Click
on a report name to select it. The text of the report displays
in the large Reports Reference Box below the pop-up menu,
replacing any report text already there.
To read a description of each reports contents, click on the Report
Sets tile and view the Choose Report table.
To send the selected report to the printer, click on the Print tile.
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report. When this button is selected by clicking on it, it appears set back
or pushed in.
Illustrations button
If selected, any illustrations you have done for topics that appear in
the currently displayed report is also displayed and printed. When this
button is selected by clicking on it, it appears set back or pushed in.
Report Sets
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Clear button
Click on this button to deselect the currently selected report or
report set and clear its text from the Reports Reference Box.
Delete button
Click on this button to delete the currently selected report or report
set and clear its text from the Reports Reference Box.
Save button
Click on this button to Save the currently selected reports to a
named report set.
Cancel button
Click on this button to exit the Report Sets window and discard
any changes to the selected reports or report sets, including the Clear
command. Any Delete and Save commands you executed remain in
effect.
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OK button
Click on this button to exit the Report Sets window and save any
changes to the selected reports or report Sets, including the Clear
command.
The Report Options tile displays the Report Options window of the
Preferences command.
Report Options:
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If you type:
^<
Left
^| (| = shift-backslash)
Center
^>
Right
-1-
Dramatica substitutes:
^A or ^a
Author of story
^D or ^d
^P or ^p
Page number
^R or ^r
Report name
^T or ^t
Title of story
^V or ^v
^^
Export to Screenwriter
The Export to Screenwriter command exports two kinds of
information from Dramatica to Movie Magic Screenwriter (a full-featured
word processing program for formatting scripts):
The Acts/Scenes/Chapters you created in the Storyweaving
stage.
Character information.
Specically, these items are exported from Dramatica:
Story title.
Character names.
Character descriptions.
Scene names.
Scene descriptions.
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To Export to Screenwriter:
1. Open the le you want to export from.
2. At the Dramatica Desktop, click on the Reports tile.
-orUnder the Storytelling Menu, select Reports
3. In the Reports window, click on the Screenwriter tile.
4. At the Export to Screenwriter window, select a folder to
save the export le to, and give it a name. (In Windows, the
Dramatica export le is given the extension .dsw.) Click on the
Save button.
A Dramatica export le is saved.
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Export
The Export command exports the currently displayed report to a
text le, which can be loaded into your word processing program for
further development or revision.
To Export the currently selected report or report set:
Click on the Export tile in the Reports Window
You will be asked to identify the le folder and path where you want
the report saved, and to name the report. Use standard conventions for
naming this report. You might want to include the date in the name to
help you keep it separate from other versions.
(Note: Do not give this text le the same name as your Dramatica
story le. Give it a different name, to avoid overwriting the original le.)
Page/Print Setup
The Page Setup or Print Setup command opens your computer
operating systems standard printing setup dialog box. Here you can set
options specic to your selected printer.
Access Page/Print Setup using one of these methods:
Click on the Print Setup tile (Windows) or Page Setup tile
(MacOS) in the Reports window.
Print
The Print command opens the print dialog box, ready to send the
currently selected report to your printer. Select the number of copies to
print, which page(s) to print, and other print session-related controls.
Print your report using one of these methods:
Click on the Print tile in the Reports Window.
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Print Preview
The Print Preview command displays your report onscreen, scaled
to 50% of the printed page size. In Print Preview, you can sneak
preview your report to see how it will look on the page. If youre not
satised with the look of the page, make adjustments in the Page Setup/
Print Setup or Report Options windows.
Prev PageClicking on this button takes you to the Previous page
in your report.
Next PageClicking on this button takes you to the Next page in
your report.
Print PageClicking on this button sends the currently displayed
Page of your report to the printer.
CloseClicking on this button exits the Print Preview window and
returns you to the Reports window.
Story Points
The Story Points window presents your storyforming and illustrating
information in a table format.
Its advantage over the Query System is that it gives an overview of
your entire story, offering quick and easy access to any area. However,
it lacks the Query Systems question and answer format and extensive
help.
Access the Story Points window using one of these methods:
Click on the Story Points tile on the Dramatica Desktop.
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The Denition column links the item and story point together
by using the denitions of each term in a sentence.
Main Character
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Impact Character
Scroll Bar
Move vertically through a particular story points section using the
scroll bar on the right side of the Story Points window. To move quickly
between the section currently displayed, slide the scroll bar button up or
down.
Edit Illustration
To edit the Illustration text:
Double-click on a text box in the Illustrations column.
-or Click on a text box to highlight it, then click on the Edit
Illustration button.
The Edit Illustration window for that particular story point displays.
Change or add to the text, as desired.
Exit the edit window by clicking on the OK button (to save your
changes) or the Cancel button (to discard the changes).
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Set Font
To change the font and/or size for all the text displayed in the story
points table:
1. Under the Edit Menu, select Set Font The Set Font window
displays.
2. Select a font and/or size from your systems available fonts.
3. Click on the OK button to apply the new font selection.
Any changes you make are applied to the text in all four columns.
To change the font and size for a specic column in the Story Points
window:
1. Click on the columns title (story point, item, denition, or
illustration) to select and highlight it.
2. Under the Edit Menu, select Set Font The Set Font window
displays.
3. Select a font and/or size from your systems available fonts.
4. Click on the OK button to apply the new font selection.
The font and size for the other columns will remain unchanged.
Plot Progression
Plot Progression gives you a linear view of your storys 4
throughlines, showing how the plot in each progresses over time.
The 4 Signposts are indicators of where the characters stand at
certain key points along their journey through the story.
The 3 Journeys are dramatic acts, detailing the events the
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characters must experience and deal with on their travels from one
signpost to the next.
To view the signposts & journeys, use one of these methods:
Under the Storytelling Menu, select Plot Progression
Signpost Storyforming
Each eld in a signpost colored eldsuch as Overall Story
Signpost 1contains a dramatic element assigned by you and
Dramatica when you reached a single storyform.
If you havent yet reached one storyform, you can assign dramatic
elements here in the Plot Progression window:
1. Click on the name of the dramatic element (or an unchosen
item) in the colored signpost eld. A pop-up menu of available
elements displays.
2. Click on an element to select it.
The 4 signposts of a particular throughline will always be one of the
following groups:
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The Past, How Things Are Changing, The Future, The Present
Journey Storyforming
Each colored eld in a journey columnsuch as under Overall
Story/Journey 1displays the two signposts that the journey is traveling
between.
Colored journey elds are not editable. Their contents are
determined by the signposts before and after them.
Illustrations
To toggle the display of your storys illustrations on and off:
Click on the Illustrations button at top left of the Plot
Progression window.
Beneath each colored throughline, another row displays. The
writing you did in the illustrating stage displays in the eld below each
signpost and journey. The elds in this row are blank if you havent
63.
Clear Storytelling
Clear Storytelling permanently deletes all the illustrative text youve
enteredin both Illustrating and Storyweavingabout your storyform.
This includes removing any scenes, acts, or chapters youve created in
Storyweaving.
You would only want to Clear Storytelling when you wish to keep
the storyform, but would like to restart illustrating it from scratch, with a
clean slate.
To Clear Storytelling:
Under the Storytelling Menu, select Clear Storytelling
Dramatica prompts you to conrm your irreversible decision to clear
your illustrations. There is no revert or undo command available for
Clear Storytelling.
Tools
Dramatica has a few specialized commands designed to augment
your story creation and analysis experience. These commands are on
the Tools menu.
Dramatica Dictionary
Dramatica uses a large vocabulary of terms, many of which have
meanings specic to Dramatica. To help you understand them, they are
available in a special Dramatica oating Dictionary. Once opened, the
dictionary can remain open in the backgroundalways ready to jump to
the foreground for your reference.
64.
65.
Lookup button
To directly search for a Dramatica item you want dened:
66.
Spin-the-Model command
The Spin-the-Model Brainstorming tool is a random storyform
generator. By using it, you allow Dramatica to randomly pick one
storyform for you out of the 32,768 possible. It retains any storyforming
choices you may have already made in the DQS, Story Engine, or Setup
Main/Impact windows.
Its a fun way to explore the possibilities of your incomplete
storyformyou pick the Storyforming elements that youre sure of, then
spin-the-model to have Dramatica pick the rest for you randomly.
You can feel condent when spinning the model. You wont
produce a story that doesnt make sense. Any storyform that Dramatica
picks ensures that you have a consistent story. The differences are in
the way that story will be toldchanging its effect on an audience.
(Note: If you are down to a single storyform, spin-the-model will
not work because there are no remaining choices to be madethere is
nothing left to spin.)
Play spin-the-model using one of these methods:
On the Dramatica Desktop, click on the Brainstorming tile. At
the Brainstorming window, click on the Spin-the-Model tile.
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Spin button
Click on this button to spin the model, and have Dramatica
randomly ll in the missing elements of your storyform.
The Story Engine settings for the resulting storyform are displayed
in the Display window at right. If theyre not what you have in mind for
your story, spin again.
Revert button
Click on this button to display your storyform as it was when you
rst entered the Brainstorming window, before doing any spinning.
OK button
Click on this button to exit the Brainstorming window and accept the
new storyform generated by spinning the model, replacing your original
one.
Cancel button
Click on this button to exit the Brainstorming window and discard
the random storyforms Dramatica presented you with, and stay with
your original storyform.
(Note: The rst time you spin the model it will take a little while.
Subsequent spins, however, are speedier.)
68.
69.
70.
Generate button
Spins the model and generates or modies characters.
Revert button
Undoes all character generation since opening the Character
Generator window, and reverts to the Character List as it was then.
71.
Cancel button
Exits the Character Generator window and discards any characters
generated since opening it.
OK button
Exits the Character Generator window and saves any characters
generated since opening it.
Theme Browser
Theme Browser is recommended for Advanced Users Only.
The Theme Browser displays a 3-dimensional view of your storys
dramatic elements, giving a birds-eye look at how they interconnect.
Theme Browser allows you to approach storyforming from an
opposite perspective to that taken in the Story Engine. There, you
answer topics by choosing from story points. In Theme Browser, you
take a story point and from a list of available topics, decide which one to
attach it to.
Lets say you decided to create a story where the Main Characters
Problem is in the area of Inequity.
Using the Query System, you would go to the Main Character
questions and nd the one that asked you to choose MC
Problem. Scrolling down the list of elements, you would select
Inequity to assign it as MC Problem.
72.
Move up, down, left, and right on the Theme Browser screen
using the ARROW keys.
73.
74.
Zoom In
Click on this button to step forward, moving your view of the
Theme Browser one layer closer to the bottom layer.
Zoom Out
Click on this button to step back, moving your view of the Theme
Browser one layer closer to the top layer.
Navigation Tree
The fourth layer goes into that type to the Variation level (e.g.,
Morality).
Storyforms Remaining
As you make a single choice in one of your storyformsyour
storys throughline, for examplenotice that the number of potential
Storyforms Remaining (displayed at top right of the window) decreases.
Navigation Grid
As you move down into the layers of the Theme Browser, there are
more items than can display onscreen at one time. To move sideways
75.
Help Commands
Help command
In addition to the Dramatica Dictionary, Dramatica has an
extensive online help system.
Users Manual contains the same information as the printed
manual, for easy access while at the computer.
76.
Contents
The help system opens up in this window. Double-click on the
Users Manual book icon or the Dramatica Theory Book icon to open up
the chapters nested beneath it. Double-click on the book icon of one of
these subjects to display its contents.
Index
Click on this Tab to display helps alphabetical Table of Contents.
Type the rst few letters of the word to nd, and the index jumps straight
to the rst subject starting with those letters. Double-click on the subject
to display its help contents.
Click on Help Topics on the menu bar to return to where you left off,
or Back to display the previous help window you viewed.
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Select one of the search words by clicking on it. The topic list
at the bottom of the window shortens.
Click on the Help Topics menu item to return to the Find index.
ClearClick on this button to clear any letters youve typed and
start over.
OptionsClick on this button to display further search criteria.
Select from the pop-up menus and click on the checkboxes as
appropriate.
RebuildClick on this button to generate the searchable index of
words again.
Click on the Search button. The Find feature highlights the rst
topic containing those letters.
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79.
80.